Hi everyone!
I'm having a fun time showing off some of the new features of the Solaris that were completed just a day before Messe, and Nick Batt from Sonic State came by the first day of the show to catch up on Solaris developments. If you'd like to see the latest on the Solaris, please head to the following link: http://www.sonicstate.com/news/2010/03/ ... -on-video/

Please note that I erroneously state the ribbon length in this video as "175 mm" (blame on no sleep the night before/trade show setup fatigue). The previous design was about 175 mm - this one is 750 mm!!

This video is the best so far John. It's nice to see the excitement and enthusiasm you are expressing as you demonstrate Solaris. It's like a big weight has been lifted off your shoulders.
Love the Obie patch and the ribbon is killer. It's one of the things I love about my Andromeda, especially the hold function. It's one of the things I miss on the Voyager pad, sometimes you find that sweet spot and would like to take your finger off the pad and use the mod/pitch wheels while keeping the held sound.
Great job John and Solaris team.
I'm really getting excited now and it looks like my 63rd birthday will be one very special birthday.

Wife and I were talking last weekend how you mother's spirit lives on in Solaris and I will always honor and cherish that.

Voyager? Andromeda? Hey Seamonkey, have you been sneaking into my studio?????

LOVE LOVE LUUURVVE the new ribbon- had no idea that this would happen, it is one of my favorite things on the A6 and allows you to get "really physical" with playing the synth. I agree the current prototype looks a bit ugly- may I suggest making the ribbon fairly dark, and perhaps minimizing (or even eliminating) any markings on it? Maybe just some subtle "fret marks" on the synth itself, and leave the ribbon plain?

First time I have seen the colored wheels. Might have to add that to my preorder. Love that it is controllable, my Voyager has the red "Fire" wheels which look great in the dark, I never did like the harsh blue.

Oh yeah, the controllable vocal filter- that is going to be fun. I assume it will be controllable from the ribbon and wheels (simultaneously even?) also? And while we're at it, maybe we can see some other filters in the future, like perhaps CS-80/GX-1 style filters?

Now we're talkin'.
This is what live performers as well as control freaks in a studio NEED.
It's beautiful.
I must say I was loosing interest because of the lack of control features, but the Ribbon has caused incredible excitement.
Chord Mode was actually at the intro of Punk Jazz on the Mr.Gone LP, well that's the instance that comes to mind when I think of JoeyZ's use of it.

You have honed in your video skills too JB.
Your love and pride shine through and your chops are even better on this vid as well.

I really need to start a Prog rock original group now. I can't use such a fine synth for Yes and ELP covers. I shall be broke but happy.
I can't even begin to write about the excitement I am feeling, and I am so happy for you too Boss.

Awesome! The Formant filters are a load of fun! I totally agree with you about the colour of the ribbon, John. Maybe get it to be the same colour as the joystick and/or knobs. I doubt there's anything prettier than this synth at the Musikmesse. Is it me or does the Solaris sound beefier on this video too? Did last minute additions to the synth include steroids, John? It certainly sounds like a bigger monster. Maybe the Sonic State guys upgraded their gear. I can't tell. Nicely done, though. I'm grinning and shaking my head. WOW!!

tmoravan wrote:So what color will the ribbon be for those folks that ordered the white casing? (or has the white option gone away?)
Very dark might still look nice as a contrast - have to see it first though.

No, the white option has not gone away. I was thinking to have a contrast - and we can try it out - but I'm tending to think that I'd rather have a lighter color for the white surface. The ones we had made used the same background color with the graphic pattern in the 2 colors we are using for the cases. The background color was taken from the same color as that which is surrounding the alpha knob and joystick. For the darker case, I just don't think it looks so nice.
-john b.